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Arlington County neighborhood
Living in Shirlington
Shirlington is south Arlington's walkable village by I-395: a main street of restaurants, a theater and a library, surrounded by condos and the 1940s Fairlington garden homes.
The short answer
What is it like to live in Shirlington?
Shirlington is a compact neighborhood in south Arlington County built around the Village at Shirlington, a main street with restaurants, Signature Theatre, a branch library and a grocery store. It has no Metro station; instead, the Shirlington bus station links ART, Metrobus and DASH routes to the Pentagon and beyond. Homes are mostly condos and apartments, with Fairlington's 1940s brick garden condos and townhouses next door. The W&OD Trail begins here.
- Jurisdiction: Arlington County, VA (check: some nearby homes are Alexandria)
- Metro: None; buses to Pentagon station from Shirlington bus station
- Typical homes: Condos, Fairlington garden condos and townhouses
- Commute to D.C.: I-395 or bus to Pentagon Metro, then Blue or Yellow
- Trails: W&OD Trail starts here; Four Mile Run Trail
- Public schools: Arlington Public Schools (verify boundaries)
Shirlington
What it's like to live in Shirlington
Shirlington is small. Campbell Avenue, the main street of the Village at Shirlington, is a few blocks long, and most of what people come for sits along it: restaurants with outdoor seating, Signature Theatre, the Shirlington Branch Library and a Harris Teeter.
The Village opened in 1944 as Shirlington Shopping Center, one of the first large shopping centers in the D.C. suburbs. A major expansion that began in 2005 added about 650 apartments and condos, lengthened the street and brought the theater and library into the same complex.
What surprises buyers I bring here is how green it is just past the shops. Four Mile Run, the dog park and the trail network start a block or two from Campbell Avenue, and Fairlington’s brick courtyards sit across I-395.
Shirlington
Homes and housing types in Shirlington
| Housing type | What you’ll find | Things to check |
|---|---|---|
| Village condos | Mid-rise condos above or near the shops, built from the mid-2000s | Fee coverage, reserves, garage parking, street and event noise |
| Fairlington garden condos | Colonial Revival brick homes built 1942 to 1944, converted to condos in the 1970s | Association exterior rules, basement moisture, updated electrical and windows |
| Fairlington townhouse-style units | Two-level brick homes with small patios, also in condo regimes | What the condo fee covers, roof and exterior responsibility, parking rules |
Fairlington was built for wartime workers with 3,439 garden apartments and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1999). Its condo associations set their own rules for windows, doors and other exterior work, so read the governing documents before you plan changes.
Shirlington
Getting around Shirlington
- Bus: The Shirlington bus station on South Quincy Street opened in 2008 and serves ART, Metrobus and DASH routes. ART 87 connects to the Pentagon Metro station on weekdays, and other ART routes run to Ballston and Courthouse.
- Driving: I-395 runs along the edge of the Village with an interchange at Shirlington Circle. Quaker Lane leads into Alexandria.
- Trails: The paved W&OD Trail starts in Shirlington and runs 45 miles to Purcellville. The Four Mile Run Trail follows the stream toward the Potomac and the Mount Vernon Trail.
- Airport: Reagan National is a short drive east.
Bus schedules change, so check current service with ART and WMATA before you count on a route.
Shirlington
Parks, shopping and things to do in Shirlington
- Signature Theatre: a professional theater company in the heart of the Village.
- Shirlington Dog Park: an off-leash area in Shirlington Park at 2710 South Oakland Street, open from sunrise until a half hour after sunset.
- Shirlington Branch Library: part of Arlington Public Library, in the same building as the theater.
- Campbell Avenue dining: sit-down restaurants and cafes line the street, with outdoor seating in warm months.
See the best parks and trails in Northern Virginia for longer rides from the W&OD trailhead.
Shirlington
Owning a home in Shirlington
Most Shirlington and Fairlington homes are in Arlington County, which has no towns, so you pay one local real estate tax: $1.053 per $100 of assessed value for fiscal year 2027. Some nearby homes, such as Parkfairfax across I-395, are inside the City of Alexandria, which has its own tax rate and school division. Always confirm the jurisdiction on the tax record.
- Condo documents: Nearly every purchase here is a condo. Review the resale certificate, reserves and leasing rules. My post on condo fee red flags helps.
- Flood risk: Low-lying blocks along Four Mile Run can sit in or near a mapped floodplain. Check the address and price insurance using my flood risk guide.
- Future plans: Arlington’s Four Mile Run Valley planning covers the area along the stream next to the Village.
- Schools: Verify each address with the APS boundary locator, and read school boundaries and home values.
A Virginia real estate attorney or CPA can advise on the legal and tax details of a specific purchase.
Shirlington
Is Shirlington a good fit?
If you want a walkable main street and a trailhead at your door but don’t need Metro outside your building, Shirlington works well. If daily rail commuting matters most, compare it with the Metro corridor neighborhoods in my Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax comparison.
For pricing, see my Arlington market report or ask me for recent Fairlington and Village sales.
Shirlington
Keep exploring Shirlington
Read more about Shirlington and the area
- Arlington vs. Alexandria vs. Fairfax County: Which Fits Your Life?
- Buying a Condo in Arlington: Fees, Reserves, Rules and Resale
- How to Check Flood Risk Before Buying a Home in Northern Virginia
- The Best Parks and Trails in Northern Virginia, From the W&OD to Great Falls
Run the numbers
- Affordability Calculator
- Neighborhood Match Quiz
- Rent vs. Buy Calculator
- Arlington County housing market report (updated monthly)
- More neighborhoods in Arlington County
Sources: Arlington County: Shirlington Dog Park; NOVA Parks: W&OD Trail; Arlington Transit: ART 87 Pentagon to Shirlington; Arlington County: FY 2027 budget adopted; Arlington Public Schools: information for realtors and boundary locator. Details checked October 2026; confirm anything time-sensitive with the source.
Neighborhood Advice
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Book a call and I’ll help you compare neighborhoods around your commute, budget and lifestyle, and figure out where you’ll be happiest living.
Shirlington FAQ
Questions about living in Shirlington
Does Shirlington have a Metro station?
No. The closest rail is Pentagon station on the Blue and Yellow lines, reached by bus from the Shirlington bus station, including ART 87 on weekdays.
Where does the W&OD Trail start?
The W&OD Trail begins in Shirlington and runs 45 paved miles west to Purcellville, according to NOVA Parks.
Is Fairlington part of Shirlington?
Fairlington is a separate neighborhood right next to Shirlington, across I-395. Walkways connect the two, and many Fairlington residents walk to the Village.
What schools serve Shirlington and Fairlington?
Arlington addresses are served by Arlington Public Schools, while any homes inside the City of Alexandria use Alexandria City Public Schools. Verify the exact address with the official boundary locator, and see /school-boundaries-and-home-values/.
Is Shirlington in Arlington or Alexandria?
The Village at Shirlington is in Arlington County. Some nearby homes have Alexandria mailing addresses or sit inside the City of Alexandria, so check the tax record for each property.
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Let’s find your place in Shirlington.
Whether you’re buying, selling, renting or investing, tell me what worries you most. We’ll talk through your goals and build a clear plan, with no pressure and no obligation.
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